House In The Horseshoe

AKA The Alston House

After stopping off at the Art Field, Tina and I looked in at a couple of antique stores/consigment shops in Carthage, and then veered north, which eventually took us past a sign for the Alston House.

When Tina saw the sign, her eyes got wide.

"I've always wanted to check that place out," she said.

"Now's your chance," I replied.

No sooner said than done. We turned off the Carbonton-Carthage Road onto the property, passed several outlying structures - including the tourist center - and parked next to a big board displaying the history of the Alston House. We romped around the grounds, poked into a couple of emtpy tobacco sheds and a little museum building that was open to the public, but the house itself turned out to be locked.

Doubtless all we had to do was arrange for a tour at the visitor's center. But I've never been one for guided tours. I prefer to poke my own proboscis where I like.

According to a handy info brochure found alongside the display, the house was built around 1772 on 2500 acres in the style typical of Lowlands plantation manors. It saw some Revolutionary War action in July of 1781 and still bears the bullet holes to this day.

The state acquired the house and grounds in 1954.

The Alston House is located at 288 Aston House Rd., Sanford, NC - 16 miles west of Sanford off Highway 42 and 10 miles north of Carthage on the Carbonton-Carthage Road.

This is their website.